Ragtop Ford Resurrection

Lovefordgalaxie · March 11, 2017

A few weeks ago, I got a '48 Ford Convertible kit on a trade. This one:

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Since I already have the Monogram Pro Modeler issue from 1998, I was planning to only use the complete running gear to build a "show frame" for my Ford dealer diorama (in the works for a long time and not near completion). The kit was incomplete when I got it. Has no chrome, and has none of the two tops, the up top, or the boot for the lowered top. The body was also painted green, and I didn't like the work done, not to mention the trim on the fenders was sanded off.

I soon changed my mind, and decided I was going to use the kit to build a replica of Biff's '46 from Back to the Future.

I even got the '46 specific parts from a Testors kit:

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

BUT I CHANGED MY MIND AGAIN!!!

Now I want a factory stock 1948 convertible. Black with a tan and red interior.

Managed to get from my parts box a set of 1948 hubcaps:

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

And stripped the ugly green paint, and redid the stock '48 fender trim:

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

The lack of a top boot was bugging me tough. Decided to open my sealed Monogram kit, and copy the boot. Big disappointment: The kit came without the part, and without the glass. Guess is a little late to complain to Monogram, after about 19 years. Yep, I should had opened the box before.

Still plan on getting a new old kit, just to have a complete one, but for now I just need to get a Revell '48 Custom, as it comes with all the chrome I need.

Since the 1948 Convertible kit is very very hard to find here (the reason I got it even knowing it was incomplete), it may take some time to find one.

Once I get a '48 Custom, the only part I will need is the top boot.

Trying to get one for the last two weeks with no result, so I decided to give it a try to make one.

Got some Durepoxi (Loctite two part epoxi putty) and modeled a top boot with reference pictures from books, and pictures of a 1:1 from my archive.

The result is far from perfect, but will "keep the hole covered" until I get another kit and actually copy the kit part for this build.

Here is my home made boot:

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

The underside. The part is solid, and a little heavy. I taped the body with Tamiya tape so the putty wouldn't adhere to the plastic.

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

This one will take a while, as I don't even got the Custom kit yeat, but I plan on saving this kit, and building an acceptable '48 out of it.

wayne swayze · March 12, 2017

Looks like a great new project. I think your "boot" looks terrific! I'll watch as you progress.

Rider · March 12, 2017

That boot really looks fantastic! Much better then the kit part would have I am sure, very nice work.

cobraman · March 12, 2017

Cool project. I'm sure you will end up with another great looking model.

afx · March 12, 2017

Nice to see you doing a work in progress Tuilio.

Lovefordgalaxie · March 19, 2017

Doing some baby steps on this one.

Gave the body a coat of primer to see where I am with the restoration. Still lot's to do on the left rear fender, and chrome trim. The front end looks good.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

The main problem is the excess sanding done on the body, that almost took the side trim away. That area will need some more elbow grease.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Also, thanks to a gluebomb I got cheap, I have now the kit convertible top boot. May end using the one I made myself...

1948 Ford ragtop WIP. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Also, the hood has some crazing due to hot automotive paint being applied without the appropriate primer. Have to solve that too.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP. by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

This monday A donor kit should arrive with all the chrome. Had to buy a Coupe for that.

More to come!!

Lovefordgalaxie · March 23, 2017

Finally have the body ready for paint.

It was a long and booring job to fix the missing trim, and to sand off the crazed plastic.

Even tough it is a restored body, I guess it will turn out nice.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

All crazing, and defects are gone now. The hood was bad.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

At least the rest of the kit is "virgin", and I now have all the missing parts.

Eric Macleod · March 23, 2017

This is my kind of model. I'll be watching with interest.

Lovefordgalaxie · March 28, 2017

OK!! First things first.

Got the body in paint, and all the bodywork paid off. After polishing, it will look like a virgin body. No scars from the "hot" paint it was covered on, and my addition of the fender trim is unnoticeable.

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Also prepared for paint the up top, and top boot from the donor built up I got.

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

In addition to those, I also did some more work on my own down top boot, the one I made from epoxy putty. What I did was to add some more in scale fixation buttons.

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

At all I'll have three different tops...

Anther thing I did was to start work on the drivetrain, gluing the parts together for posterior seam sanding:

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

On the frame, I completely ignore the instructions and glue the X member parts together before installing the exhaust. This way I can treat the seams, avoid glue boo boos after the parts are painted, and I install the exhaust by cutting it in three parts, like on the real car.

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

I was going to use all chrome from the donor car, but I didn't have the heart to take it all apart, so I got a donor kit for the chrome:

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

The donor car had to donate it's tires tough. The new kits come with poor tires with no names. Took the old tires from the donor built up Ford, wiped the printed white walls, and painted my own airbrushing some Model Master flat white acrylic.

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

The donor car will also donate it's air cleaner and radiator hoses, all parts that used to have decals, and the newer kits, like the Police Coupe omit.

1948 Ford Ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

chepp · March 28, 2017

What a save! Your boot looks nice as does all the work put into restoring the body.

Modlbldr · March 29, 2017

Very nice work on saving this one. The black paint looks gorgeous. Sounds like you should have enough spare parts now. I, too, have a few of the different versions of the 48. I bought one from a thrift store that was complete, along with the flathead engine from the Revell 50 Ford pickup. Unfortunately the previous owner had poorly sanded off about half of the fender trim. I'm not looking forward to replacing it. I may do a model of a rust bucket with chrome missing. What size and type of strip did you use to replace yours?

Later-

Lovefordgalaxie · March 29, 2017

What a save! Your boot looks nice as does all the work put into restoring the body.

Thank you!!

Very nice work on saving this one. The black paint looks gorgeous. Sounds like you should have enough spare parts now. I, too, have a few of the different versions of the 48. I bought one from a thrift store that was complete, along with the flathead engine from the Revell 50 Ford pickup. Unfortunately the previous owner had poorly sanded off about half of the fender trim. I'm not looking forward to replacing it. I may do a model of a rust bucket with chrome missing. What size and type of strip did you use to replace yours?
Later-

Thanks!! A couple of years ago I bought a A-4 size sheet of styrene plastic with 0,5mm, specially to make side trim for a Testors 1948 Ford Sedan Coupe.

Ford this build, I cut stripes about 1mm thick and glued them to the fenders.

Lovefordgalaxie · March 30, 2017

Little more progress done.

Built the frame as far as possible before painting it as a unit.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Think about a frame that has three times the number of parts I would like it had...

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

The engine is done, and the seams are gone!!

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Also finished the radiator, that is quite complicated to get rid of the seam. The upper radiator detail is split in half by the parts seam.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Also finished the work on the exhaust. Divided it in three parts, like on the 1:1 Ford. This way I can install it even tough the frame is fully built. Not to mention it's easier to paint the muffler a different shade than the actual pipes.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr

Also, polished the body, that is ready for foil.

1948 Ford ragtop WIP by CCCP Digital Studio, on Flickr